In 1998, Burkina Faso created the National Council for Environmental Management (CONAGESE) pursuant to Burkina’s Environment Code. In 2002, the National Council on Environment and Sustainable Development (CONEDD) replaced the CONAGESE. The CONEDD is charged with promoting sustainable development by facilitating the effective integration of fundamental principles of environmental management into the national and sectoral development policies.
To achieve its goals, the CONEDD has established three bodies: the Conference, the Permanent Secretariat, and Committees. The Conference is the supreme body of the CONEDD. It meets once every two (2) years, and the Prime Minister presides over the Conference. The Permanent Secretariat is responsible for executing and implementing the decisions of the Conference. The Committees are consultative bodies regularly updated by the sessions of the Conference, and they provide advice on priority issues relating to the environment and sustainable development.
As the highest body of the CONEDD, the Conference includes representatives of Government departments and public institutions involved in environmental management and sustainable development, local communities and community organizations, civil society (especially NGOs), religious and traditional leaders, the private sector, trade unions, trade associations of rural producers, and international technical and financial partners. By its composition, the Conference provides a framework for dialogue among the wide range of actors involved in, affected by, and interested in environmental policy and management.
The Conference has convened in twice, once in 2002 and once in 2005. At the first session in 2002, the Conference adopted a number of decisions relating to institutional arrangements to promote sustainable development.
The theme of the second session, which took place in June 2005, was “Reinforcement of the Role of Stakeholders in Environmental Management, the Fight against Poverty, and the Promotion of Sustainable Development.” This session brought together approximately 400 participants from the wide range of institutions mentioned above (Government, communities, NGOs, …). This session lasted four days and included two workshops (in parallel) that focused on two particularly important groups in Burkina Faso: (1) traditional and religious leaders, and (2) environmental educators. Approximately 100 traditional leaders and religious leaders from throughout the country participated, as did many Ministers and other Government officials. The workshops provided an opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences and to communicate directly among the relevant stakeholders.
At the end of the workshops, the various stakeholder groups made statements, resolutions, and recommendations in a plenary session. Of note, the traditional and religious leaders made recommendations and committed to taking certain measures on the environment after the Conference.
These periodic sessions of the Conference have been an important way to exchange information and facilitate institutional coordination among the numerous institutions and stakeholders interested in environmental management and sustainable development in Burkina Faso. The exchange of information promotes environmental education and environmental citizenship in the country.
For more information, contact Mr. Barthelemy Kere barthelemy_kere@yahoo.fr
or Mr. Robert Some somerobert2002@yahoo.fr; see also the case study on “Coordination through Environmental Cells in Burkina Faso” following Guideline 42(b)
.